REASONS FOR THE DECLINE/ WEAKNESS OF TURKEY

1. The loss of Turkey's military power was responsible for the collapse of the Ottoman Empire. From the 14th -17th Centuries, Turkey was a world military power and had an extensive empire that included the continents of Europe, Asia and Africa. But towards the end of the 18th century and the beginning of the 19th Century, Turkey lost her military glory. She had a cosmopolitan array that disciplining and integrating under one command became impossible. Consequently, the army lost its effectiveness and could not hold the different nationalities together as a sign of weakness. Even her former subject states like Egypt, Tunisia, Algeria and Greece became more powerful and started disobeying the sultan like the way Mohamed Ali (Egypt) and the Greeks did. In fact, Turkey became so sick (weak) that she had to be assisted in suppressing internal revolts like in the Syrian question.
2. Administrative problem was one issue that contributed to the crumbling of the Ottoman Empire.
Turkey had created a heterogeneous empire that covered the continents of Europe, Asia and Africa. These were people of different historical, cultural, and linguistic background that were difficult to hold under a centralized administration. The empire was therefore too large to be ruled led by any single power or person.
Eventually, the sultans were less effective outside Constantinople and this left the conquered states semi-independent. This made it easier for the conquered states to revolt against the Sultan, which led to the disintegration of the empire.
3. Corruption and embezzlement were diseases that characterized Turkey a sick man of the 19 Century.
The Turks Moslem administrators were "potbellied men" who made bribery, swindling and embezzlement part of their life style. These brought financial crisis, poverty and famine upon which Turkey was branded a sick man of Europe. Corruption & embezzlement also made the conquered states to lose hope in the government and that is part of the reason why the Greeks and the Moreans broke off. It also affected the army who also lost confidence on the government, which undermined the government the full loyalty of the army.
4. The rise of nationalism was a formidable challenge that tore the Turkish Empire into pieces. Due to political, Economic and military weaknesses of the Ottoman Empire, the conquered states started struggling to regain their independence and many succeeded. For example, Serbia and Egypt became independent in 1805, Algeria in 1811, Greece in 1832 and some Balkan states in 1878. The breaking away of these states one after another weakened Turkey and was the actual disintegration of the empire.
5. Economically, the Ottoman Empire was weakened by loss of trade control. Before 1760, Turkey was the leading commercial and sea-faring nation. She monopolized trade within the empire and across the Mediterranean and Baltic seas. However, industrial revolution started in Britain in the 1860s and Britain started manufacturing better ships than Turkey. Eventually, Britain destroyed Turkish dominance in trade and monopolized international trade. This left Turkey in an awkward economic situation and made her a laughing stock of Europe" to be branded the ''sick man of Europe".
6. Religious tension between the Moslems and Christians within the Ottoman Empire also brought about the disintegration of the empire. The Christian majority within the empire were discriminated in Education, administration and heavily taxed with inhuman methods of collection. Above all Christians were persecuted by the Moslem rulers of the empire. This brought rebellion such as in Greece, Morea, Chios and Bulgaria which left Turkey weak. It should be noted that Turkey's persecution of Christians attracted the intervention of Christian powers like Russia, Britain, Austria and France whose intervention complicated the issue and led to the success of revolts like in Greece and Bulgaria.
7. The spread and influence of the French revolutionary ideas of equality, liberty and fraternity also contributed to the disintegration of the Ottoman Empire. By the 19^"" Century these revolutionary ideas had spread to Europe including the Turkish Empire. It influenced the Turkish subjects to demand for Liberty and independence against the Turks' oppressive and exploitative administration. This led to revolts such as in Greece. Wallacia, Moldavia and Bulgaria which shook the empire and led to its collapse.
8. The rise and role of educated elites and intellectuals was influential in the decline of the Ottoman Empire. They were young, revolutionary and dynamic men who condemned Turkish oppressive and exploitative regime. They advocated for reforms and independence to the conquered states. These created revolutionary emotions in the minds of the oppressed and exploited Turks subjects, which prompted them to revolt and break the empire. Intellectuals such as Hypslanti and Capodistrious led the Greeks to revolt against Turkey, which made the Greeks independent by 1832. Thus, the role and inspiration of Intellectuals widened the gap between Turkey and her subjects and made the disintegration of Ottoman Empire inevitable.
9. Lastly, the Ottoman Empire was weakened by the selfish and convergent interest of European big powers. Britain rivaled Turkey in order to dominate international trade. Austria, France and Britain wanted Turkish powers and influence to be reduced and act as a bull work against Russian imperialism.
Russia wanted to conquer and dominate the Balkans and that is why she coined the idea that Turkey was a sick man that could not be cured by any quantity of drugs. She incited and supported the Greeks, Wallacians, Moldavians, Bosnians, Montenegrins, Serbians, and Bulgarians to revolt against Turkey.
These revolts weakened Turkey economically, militarily and led to the collapse of the empire.